E28 Wheels

Schnell Euro · #1 (**permalink**) 04-22-2006, 05:48 PM

So I need new tires for my E28 533i and replacing them is wicked expencive so I have decided to put some new wheels on my new car. So now I have a few questions:

What size? I would like a larger wheel but I dont want any rubbing or anything, and im not a ricer so im not intrested in 19s, I like larger wheels but they still need to look clean and feel good. Are 17s about as big as you can/should go? How wide can you go with a 17, ect.?

What wheels fit? So I know there 5x120, but what offset and hub size? For example can I put a set of E36 wheels on it, or a set of wheels made for a e36? What do I need to look for size wise when buying wheels?

Is being hubcentric a must? Im guessing is I buy a cheap 17in M5 replica wheel there probably not going to be hubcentric. Is this going to cause major problems or will they be ok for normal street driving?

Any other advice you guys have for buying wheels for my E28 would be greatly appriciated. E28s are new to me so I need all the help I can get. Thanks in advance.

Also If anyone has any wheels or wheel/tire combos they would like to sell shoot me an email at speedin944@hotmail.com with all the info on them. I dont wanna spend a whole ton of money as I think im going to have to get a loan to pay for them. Im thinking that I wanna spend $1000-1200 at the most.

Thanks mucho,
Shea Gaffney

Fe11xx · #2 (**permalink**) 04-22-2006, 10:41 PM

first off, hubcentric is vital. without the correct bore size you will get horrific vibrations through the steering. I know because i drove around for a week without hubcentric rings (these were with e39 wheels, something stupid like 2mm difference).

also, the offset is crucial as you will encounter rubbing on the struts if it is not correct. ET20 is what you want for normal sized wheels (im talking 8 inches wide, however i heard somewhere that the US cars had different struts or something... i dont know).

e36 wheels wont work, wrong offset.

most E39 wheels will work, as i think they used the same offset. I'm running 16x8 rims with 225/50/R16 Pirelli P6000's all the way around. Any wider at the front and id be rubbing on the strut.

M-teamE30 · #3 (**permalink**) 04-23-2006, 10:38 AM

Iam running e39 wheels as well. 17x7.5 with hubcentric rings with 235/40-17 tires no clearance problems and I am lowered on h&r sport springs.

Schnell Euro · #4 (**permalink**) 04-24-2006, 04:23 AM

Wow, you car looks amazing. Those are factory e39 wheels right? Whats a good place to get hubrings? Also hows the ride on those sport springs? and what struts are you running with them? That setup gives your car a great stance, one of the best ive seen yet on a e28. Thanks for your help.

- Shea

Schnell Euro · #5 (**permalink**) 04-24-2006, 04:24 AM

Never mind on the struts, I just read your sig.

-Shea

Schnell Euro · #6 (**permalink**) 04-25-2006, 10:37 PM

ACS Type 2 Racing 17x8.5

Will these wheels fit my E28 533i? They are 17x8.5 and the offset is 15, and the tires on them are 235/45/17. If the offset needs to be 20mm or somthing, can I just use 5mm spacers? He thinks they will fit but he had them on a e34 in the pic, and I need to know 100% for sure before I buy them. I have been told that pretty much only E28 and E39 wheels will fit because of the offset and hub size, but im wondering if maybe its diffrent because there aftermarket. Im also wondering if these may be to wide, or the sidewalls to high to fit, and I have also heard that alot of wheels that fit a E39 will not fit the E28 because they rub on the struts. It would be soo great if some one knew 100% for sure that they will or will not fit.
Also if anyone else has ANY type of wheels w/ tires for sale from stock 15s and 16s, to aftermarket 17s under $1000 that will fit my car please email me at speedin944@hotmail.com. I need some ASAP. Thanks in advance!!!

-Shea Gaffney

fastfiver · #7 (**permalink**) 04-26-2006, 12:46 AM

I am running 16" BBS RS 3-piece wheels. They are old enough that they don't need hubcentric rings. I have no rubbing issues and am running Ground Control coilovers and Koni sports....I think it is the lowest E28 in the U.S. right now (at least nobody has shown me a lower one!

) Also, they are very lightweight. Mine weigh about 16lbs ea. without tires.

downsbs · #8 (**permalink**) 04-26-2006, 08:14 AM

Your car is the sechs.

downsbs · #9 (**permalink**) 04-26-2006, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schnell Euro

ACS Type 2 Racing 17x8.5

Will these wheels fit my E28 533i? They are 17x8.5 and the offset is 15, and the tires on them are 235/45/17. If the offset needs to be 20mm or somthing, can I just use 5mm spacers? He thinks they will fit but he had them on a e34 in the pic, and I need to know 100% for sure before I buy them. I have been told that pretty much only E28 and E39 wheels will fit because of the offset and hub size, but im wondering if maybe its diffrent because there aftermarket. Im also wondering if these may be to wide, or the sidewalls to high to fit, and I have also heard that alot of wheels that fit a E39 will not fit the E28 because they rub on the struts. It would be soo great if some one knew 100% for sure that they will or will not fit.
Also if anyone else has ANY type of wheels w/ tires for sale from stock 15s and 16s, to aftermarket 17s under $1000 that will fit my car please email me at speedin944@hotmail.com. I need some ASAP. Thanks in advance!!!

-Shea Gaffney

You should not need a spacer set to run these wheels, they should fit with no problems at all.

Schnell Euro · #10 (**permalink**) 04-26-2006, 11:47 PM

Are you 100% sure that they will fit, because if you just think that they will fit and I buy them and they dont then I will be sooo fucked. The tires I have now are from 1989 and are cracked as hell so im real scared to drive on them, and I had to take out a loan to get the money to buy these wheels. If I buy them and they dont fit then I will not be able to afford another pair and I wont have any wheels to drive on. I would be FUKED! If there is any one else that can confirm that they will fit FOR SURE that would be great. The more people tell me that they fit the more confident I will feel, because a guy that owns a BMW shop told me that he thinks they may not fit, but is not sure.
Thanks everyone for you help.

-Shea Gaffney

Schnell Euro · #11 (**permalink**) 04-27-2006, 11:11 AM

Does anyone know for sure?

fastfiver · #12 (**permalink**) 04-27-2006, 08:56 PM

Unfortunately the only person that is going to be able to tell you they will 100% work is the seller. He needs to give the offset of the wheels for us to know. In my experience, any wheel that fits an E34 will usually work on an E28. Assuming those wheels are ET20-25 you will be just fine, however he has some pretty wide tires on there, and you will need to roll/cut your rear fenders to run them. Talk to the seller and get some more info for us, and then we will be able to tell you if they will work on your car. And also, most wheels from an E36 WILL fit on your car.....you will just need run some spacers (usually 15-20mm). Also, you can easily check what wheels will fit your car by looking at this website: E28 Wheel & Tire database

Schnell Euro · #13 (**permalink**) 04-28-2006, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schnell Euro

ACS Type 2 Racing 17x8.5

Will these wheels fit my E28 533i? They are 17x8.5 and the offset is 15, and the tires on them are 235/45/17. If the offset needs to be 20mm or somthing, can I just use 5mm spacers? He thinks they will fit but he had them on a e34 in the pic, and I need to know 100% for sure before I buy them. I have been told that pretty much only E28 and E39 wheels will fit because of the offset and hub size, but im wondering if maybe its diffrent because there aftermarket. Im also wondering if these may be to wide, or the sidewalls to high to fit, and I have also heard that alot of wheels that fit a E39 will not fit the E28 because they rub on the struts. It would be soo great if some one knew 100% for sure that they will or will not fit.
Also if anyone else has ANY type of wheels w/ tires for sale from stock 15s and 16s, to aftermarket 17s under $1000 that will fit my car please email me at speedin944@hotmail.com. I need some ASAP. Thanks in advance!!!

-Shea Gaffney

fastfiver · #14 (**permalink**) 04-28-2006, 02:30 PM

With that offset and more importantly, the wide ass tires on the wheels, those will not work on your car without some modifications in the rear. The tires are too tall of a profile and will rub like crazy in the back, and probably rub the struts in the front. I bet you could make them work with some different tires though....like a 40 series or something in a 225 width. Also, whoever told you that only wheels from a E28 or E39 will work on your car was incorrect. Pretty much ANY BMW wheel will fit with the correct spacers. I would just try to find some 17x8's with some 225/45 (or even 40 if you like low profiles) and an offset of about 20-25 and you will be just fine. Check out the for sale section at mye28.com, there are always lots of wheels for sale and they will fit because most of the guys that are sellin gthem pulled them off of an E28.